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Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess’s short-lived look on the Her Best Life retreat – as an inside look into the glamorous night is revealed

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have quietly slipped out of Sydney.

The couple left the Intercontinental Coogee Beach early this morning – before attendees at the Her Best Life retreat, an event in the same hotel where women had forked out $3,200 to spend time with Meghan – had even begun their breakfast and yoga class.

Meghan spent just two hours at the retreat on Friday night, where she posed for group selfies with select VIP guests and participated in a Q&A with Her Best Life podcaster Gemma O’Neill.

She then joined Prince Harry at a NSW Waratahs versus Pasifika Moana rugby union match at Allianz Stadium.

Despite Meghan’s short appearance, retreat participants gushed on social media that Gemma’s chat with the duchess was ‘incredible – so much kindness from Meghan’.

Another said she had ‘goosebumps’.

High profile guests included radio queens Jackie O Henderson and Carrie Bickmore, along with reality tv star Megan Towner.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s Canadian best mate Markus Anderson, who is also friends with Gemma, were also in the room.

On Saturday morning, the group was due to enjoy an optional yoga class at 7.45am before ‘easing into the day’ with a buffet breakfast.

But unbeknownst to the attendees, their star guest had already left the building.

Harry and Meghan’s motorcade quietly slipped out of the Intercontinental’s underground carpark at 7.20am.

They travelled in a small motorcade of one NSW police BMW and two glossy Range Rovers to the Sydney international airport.

Daily Mail understands they are booked on a 9am American Airlines flight to Los Angeles, where they will land Saturday morning California time and be reunited with their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, at their mansion in California’s ritzy beachside Montecito.

The AA flight features eight first class suites, and is described as ‘a testament to luxury in the skies’ with ‘unparalleled comfort and privacy’.

Passengers enjoy ‘unwavering attention’ from flight attendants.

Meghan and Harry make a dash for Sydney Airport to return to Montecito mansion

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have quietly slipped out of Sydney.

The couple left the Intercontinental Coogee Beach early this morning – before attendees at the Her Best Life retreat, an event in the same hotel where women had forked out $3,200 to spend time with Meghan – had even had their breakfast.

Meghan spent just two hours at the retreat on Friday night, where she posed for group selfies with select VIP guests and participated in a Q&A with Her Best Life podcaster Gemma O’Neill.

Despite Meghan’s short appearance, retreat participants gushed on social media that Gemma’s chat with the duchess was ‘incredible – so much kindness from Meghan’.
Another said she had ‘goosebumps’.

High-profile guests included radio queens Jackie O Henderson and Carrie Bickmore, along with reality TV star Megan Towner.

On Saturday morning, the group was due to enjoy an optional yoga class at 7.45am before ‘easing into the day’ with a buffet breakfast.

But unbeknownst to the attendees, their star guest had already left the building.
Harry and Meghan’s motorcade quietly slipped out of the Intercontinental’s underground car park at 7.20am.

They travelled in a small motorcade of one NSW police BMW and two glossy Range Rovers to the Sydney international airport.

Daily Mail understands they are booked on a 9am American Airlines flight to Los Angeles, where they will land Saturday morning California time and be reunited with their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, at their mansion in California’s ritzy beachside Montecito.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, leave Australia after their 4 day pseudo 'royal visit', spotted getting the VIP treatment at Sydney international airport using a special access area to enter the terminal18 April 2026©MEDIA-MODE.COM
15743727 Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess' short-lived appearance at the Her Best Life retreat - as inside look into the glamorous evening is revealed
15743727 Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess' short-lived appearance at the Her Best Life retreat - as inside look into the glamorous evening is revealed

So what did Meghan talk about at the $3,200-a-head retreat on Friday night?

The Duchess of Sussex slammed public life during a Q&A with Besties co-founder Gemma O’Neill at the Her Best Life retreat in Sydney on Friday night.

Meghan, 44, said she had been enduring attacks for years during the one-hour discussion in front of a private Sydney audience, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Attendees who paid for a $3,200 VIP ticket were privy to a group photo with the Duchess, as well as a front row seat at the Q&A.

Prince Harry was also in attendance, and rose to his feet as his wife entered the room to greet her with a kiss and help her onto the stage.

Meghan told the crowd her experience in the public eye had been ‘very difficult’ but that people’s criticism of her had to do with their own ‘projections’.

She said the last decade, during which she celebrated happy moments such as her wedding and the birth of her two children, had been tainted by the vicious attacks.

Meghan said motherhood had taught her to have perspective and patience, something she needed, ‘given what our life is like’.

Radio broadcasters Jackie O Henderson and Carrie Bickmore were in the audience on Friday night, as well as Henderson’s teenage daughter Kitty.

Meghan wore a $350 cashmere tank from Australian brand Scanlan & Theodore paired with beige trousers and nude heels for the appearance.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O' Neill at "Her Best Life" retreat.archewell_sussex_¿Liked by ashleequinn39 and othersMeghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O'Neill on @herbestlifepod ¿¿
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O' Neill at "Her Best Life" retreat.archewell_sussex_¿Liked by ashleequinn39 and othersMeghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O'Neill on @herbestlifepod ¿¿
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O' Neill at "Her Best Life" retreat.archewell_sussex_¿Liked by ashleequinn39 and othersMeghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O'Neill on @herbestlifepod ¿¿
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O' Neill at "Her Best Life" retreat.archewell_sussex_¿Liked by ashleequinn39 and othersMeghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O'Neill on @herbestlifepod ¿¿
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O' Neill at "Her Best Life" retreat.archewell_sussex_¿Liked by ashleequinn39 and othersMeghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gemma O'Neill on @herbestlifepod ¿¿

Aussie asks Prince Harry to do a SHOEY – before he’s shoved away by cops

As Harry and Meghan departed their hotel shortly after 7pm on Friday, a young man rushed at their car armed with a longneck beer bottle and a workman’s boot.

He asked the Prince to ‘do a shoey’ – an Australian tradition in which alcohol is skolled from a shoe.

A plainclothes police officer forcefully pushed him away, so the man did the shoey himself.

Meghan and Harry left her retreat after a little more than TWO hours

Meghan left the Her Best Life retreat after spending approximately two hours with women who had paid up to $3,200 to be in the same room as the Duchess.

She departed the InterContinental Coogee with her husband Prince Harry, shortly after 7pm.

Both were grinning happily as they made their way to a rugby match between the NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika.

As the couple departed their hotel, a young Aussie man rushed at their car armed with a longneck beer bottle and a workman’s boot, asking Harry to ‘do a shoey’ – an Australian tradition in which alcohol is skolled from a shoe.

A plainclothes police officer forcefully pushed him away, so the man did the shoey himself.

Meanwhile, Australian radio host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson and her daughter Kitty were the last guests to arrive and the first to leave.

Meghan and Harry made a speedy exit from the hotel on Saturday morning to make it for their 9am flight home to Montecito.

17 APRIL 2026 MELBOURNE VICWWW.MATRIXNEWS.COM.AUCREDIT: MATRIXNEWS FOR DAILYMAIL AUSTRALIAASSIGNMENT:  - HRH PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN DAY 4 at INTERCONTINENTAL COOGEEGuests and clothing arriving at â¿¿Her Best Life' event protected by units of Counter Terrorism and Special Tactical Teams, and several uniformed and plain clothes officers.
17 APRIL 2026 MELBOURNE VICWWW.MATRIXNEWS.COM.AUCREDIT: MATRIXNEWS FOR DAILYMAIL AUSTRALIAASSIGNMENT:  - HRH PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN DAY 4 at INTERCONTINENTAL COOGEEGuests and clothing arriving at â¿¿Her Best Life' event protected by units of Counter Terrorism and Special Tactical Teams, and several uniformed and plain clothes officers.

Champagne, canapes and a three-course meal: Inside look into the Her Best Life retreat

Photos from the first night of the Her Best Life retreat in Coogee have revealed an inside look to the glamorous evening.

The night began with ‘Bubbles in the Ballroom’ and canapes before guests joined the Duchess for a three-course meal.

Attendees could choose between a Giramasa kingfish tostada or a Vannella burrata for entree, followed by the choice of a Riverina Angus beef tenderloin or free-range chicken breast for the main course.

Dessert was a choice of coconut crumble or the Aussie classic, pavlova.

But guests hopeful to catch one more glimpse of the Duchess of Sussex on Saturday will be bitterly disappointed, with Meghan and Harry making a dash for the airport.

15743727 Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess' short-lived appearance at the Her Best Life retreat - as inside look into the glamorous evening is revealed
15743727 Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess' short-lived appearance at the Her Best Life retreat - as inside look into the glamorous evening is revealed
15743727 Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess' short-lived appearance at the Her Best Life retreat - as inside look into the glamorous evening is revealed
15743727 Meghan and Harry quietly slip out of Sydney after the Duchess' short-lived appearance at the Her Best Life retreat - as inside look into the glamorous evening is revealed
Key Updates

  • Aussie asks Prince Harry to do a SHOEY – before he’s shoved away by cops
  • Champagne, canapes and a three-course meal: Inside look into the Her Best Life retreat
  • Meghan and Harry make a dash for Sydney Airport to return to Montecito mansion

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